Olivier Giroud is channelling the same determination that Zlatan Ibrahimovic has shown as he continues playing into his mid 30s and beyond.
La Gazzetta dello Sport write that Giroud wants to do like Ibrahimovic did, given the Swede was his idol while younger, and that means he wants to play until he’s at least 40 years old. His wife Jennifer announced it, stating: “You will still hear about him for a long time.”
In the meantime, the Milan striker is experiencing a new youth in Qatar where he has just set a new record as France’s top scorer. His agent Michael Manuello explained to the newspaper Le Figaro that his client is a continuous marvel.
“At every stage of his life he has been able to raise the level of play and achieve goals. For him, every moment is new, magical and never gets bored,” he said.
“Every time he takes the field it’s like a child who realises his dream and enters another world, like a kid in the school playground. Then a father returns, without believing himself a star: he doesn’t even have a bodyguard. He never claims anything but he managed to create a kind of magic, and today he is at the pinnacle of his art.
“Olivier has known difficult times, he has been harshly criticised, but the turning point came with the European Championship and with the decision to come to Italy,” his agent added.
The French centre-forward could have gone to earn even ‘four times more’ at some ‘exotic destination’ but instead he was focused on ‘winning titles and writing history’, with a 52nd goal for his country coming over the weekend.
Giroud ‘has the mentality of a 20-year-old boy’ according to his wife, and his physique holds up because he pays attention to everything, starting with the food and the private chef he has hired.
At 36, many would start to retire or at least think about a less demanding destination, but instead Giroud is never satisfied. He will do as Zlatan did and play until he’s 40, so all that remains for Milan is to confirm their trust in him and renew his contract which expires in June.
